Qantas’ first ultra-long-haul aircraft leaves Toulouse factory ahead of historic Sydney-London route

The first aircraft destined to operate Qantas’ groundbreaking non-stop flights between Sydney and London has officially rolled out of Airbus’ Toulouse factory, marking a major milestone for one of commercial aviation’s most ambitious projects.

The specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR is the first of 12 aircraft being built for Qantas’ long-awaited Project Sunrise programme, which aims to connect Australia’s east coast directly with major global cities including London and New York on flights lasting up to 22 hours. The aircraft has now entered its testing phase ahead of delivery to the Australian airline by the end of 2026.

The world’s longest commercial flights

When the Sydney-London service launches, expected in 2027, it will become the first non-stop commercial route between the two cities and one of the longest flights ever operated. Qantas has also confirmed direct Sydney-New York flights as part of the programme.

*The Wellbeing Zone is an integral aspect of the aircraft to encourage passengers to move during the flight*

The aircraft has been heavily customised for ultra-long-range travel. Airbus engineers added an extra fuel tank capable of carrying 20,000 additional litres of fuel, extending the jet’s range to more than 18,000 kilometres. To accommodate the additional fuel and improve passenger comfort on flights lasting almost a full day, seating capacity has been reduced to 238 passengers — significantly fewer than a standard A350-1000.

More than 40% of the cabin will be dedicated to premium seating, including first and business class suites. The aircraft will also feature a dedicated Wellbeing Zone where passengers can stretch, hydrate and move during the flight, alongside circadian-rhythm lighting designed to minimise jet lag.

Business Suite on the new Sydney-London route

Paris identified as future possibility

While Sydney-London and Sydney-New York remain the launch routes, Qantas has previously identified Paris as a potential future destination for direct Project Sunrise services. The airline first outlined ambitions to connect Australia directly to European cities including Paris when the initiative was unveiled in 2017.

Qantas already operates flights between Sydney and Paris via Perth, but a direct Sydney-Paris connection would represent another major shift in ultra-long-haul travel between Australia and Europe.

A new era of ultra-long-haul travel

Project Sunrise has faced several delays since it was first announced, including pandemic-related disruptions and engineering changes required for certification of the aircraft’s additional fuel tank. However, the rollout of the first completed aircraft in Toulouse signals that the programme is now entering its final development phase.

For Qantas, the project represents far more than simply launching longer routes. The airline sees the aircraft as redefining long-haul travel itself — reducing total journey times, eliminating stopovers and reshaping how passengers move between Australia, Europe and North America.

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